field
noun OPAL W
/fiːld/
/fiːld/
Idioms 
enlarge image[countable] an area of land in the country used for growing crops or keeping animals in, usually surrounded by a fence, etc.- We had to walk across a ploughed field.
- in a field We camped in a field near the village.
- People were working in the fields.
- field of something We saw golden fields of wheat.
- He planted a field of beans.
- a rice/wheat field
- The house overlooks the sugar cane fields.
Collocations FarmingFarmingGrowing food and raising animals- plant trees/seeds/crops/vines/barley
- grow/produce corn/wheat/rice/fruit
- plough/(North American English) plow land/a field
- sow/harvest seeds/crops/fields
- spread manure/fertilizer on something
- cultivate/irrigate/water/contaminate crops/plants/fields/land
- damage/destroy/lose your crop
- ripen/pick fruit/berries/grapes
- press/dry/ferment grapes
- grind/thresh grain/corn/wheat
- raise/rear/keep chickens/poultry/cattle/pigs
- raise/breed/feed/graze livestock/cattle/sheep
- kill/slaughter livestock
- preserve/smoke/cure/salt meat
- run a fish farm/an organic dairy farm
- engage in/be involved in intensive (pig/fish) farming
- use/apply (chemical/organic) fertilizer/insecticides/pesticides
- begin/do/conduct field trials of GM (= genetically modified) crops
- grow/develop GM crops/seeds/plants/foods
- fund/invest in genetic engineering/research
- improve/increase crop yields
- face/suffer from/alleviate food shortages
- label food that contains GMOs (= genetically modified organisms)
- eliminate/reduce farm subsidies
- oppose/be against factory farming/GM food
- promote/encourage/support organic/sustainable farming
Extra ExamplesTopics Farminga2- She grew up in the countryside, playing in the woods and fields.
- There was a big field behind our house.
- tractors working out in the field
- The straw can be chopped and spread on the field.
- The fields around the village are full of corn.
- They went walking in the fields outside the city.
- When I was a child this was all fields.
- Despite the war, they continued to work the fields.
- He planted fields full of sunflowers.
- looking out on the green fields of Shropshire
- the green fields of my homeland
- The farmer had just ploughed the field, ready for planting the next crop.
- This weed can cause problems in corn, soybean, and wheat fields.
- Emerald green rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see.
- We saw endless fields of sunflowers.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- cultivated
- ploughed/plowed
- grass
- …
- work in
- cultivate
- work
- …
- across a/the field
- through a/the field
- (out) in a/the field
- …
- [countable] (usually in compounds) an area of land used for the purpose mentioned
- a landing field
- [countable] (usually in compounds) a large area of land covered with the thing mentioned; an area from which the thing mentioned is obtained
- The territory is covered with snow, bare rock and ice fields.
- Prisoners were sent to work in the gas fields in the north.
- the discovery of the oil and gas fields in the North Sea
- (British English also pitch)[countable] an area of land used for playing a sport on
- a football/soccer/sports field
- a baseball/cricket/rugby field
- on/off the field Every player on the field did their best today.
- Players need discipline both on and off the field (= when they are playing and also in their free time).
- There was huge excitement as the teams came onto the field.
- Today they take the field (= go on to the field to play a game) against county champions Essex.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsa2- The area has golf courses, community gardens, and sports fields.
- They were walking home from the sports field.
- From the train we saw people playing at a baseball field.
- There are soccer fields behind the school.
- She made a name for herself on the hockey field.
- He spends his weekends on muddy rugby fields.
- As soon as she came on the field she made a difference.
- She limped off the field.
- He was booed off the field.
- Players are only reselected if they retain their form on the field (= when they are playing a match).
- For Liverpool fans, it was a night to remember both on and off the field (= the match was good and so were the celebrations afterwards).
- She passed the ball across the field.
- He likes to play in the middle of the field.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- playing
- sports
- football
- …
- take
- on a/the field
- off the field
- [singular + singular or plural verb] (in cricket and baseball) the team that is trying to catch the ball rather than hit it
- He took the ball early and hit it through a gap in the field.
- [singular + singular or plural verb] all the people or animals competing in a particular sports event
- The strong field includes three world record holders.
Extra Examples- She managed to head the field across the finishing line of the London Marathon.
- His superb technique puts him head and shoulders ahead of the field.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- strong
- crowded
- male-dominated
- …
- dominate
- head
- lead
- …
- include somebody
- ahead of the field
- usually the field[countable, usually singular] an area of land where a battle is fought
- in the field a medal for bravery in the field
- on the field to die on the field of battle
- a field ambulance/kitchen
- [countable] a particular subject or activity that somebody works in or is interested in synonym area (4)
- Child development is such an interesting field.
- Genetic science has developed dramatically since I entered the field 40 years ago.
- in a field All of them are experts in their chosen field.
- He was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in this field.
- in the field of something She works in the field of adult education.
- I enjoy meeting people in other fields of business.
- field of something This discovery has opened up a whole new field of study.
- ‘How big was the bomb, if it did all that damage?’ ‘I don’t know. Not my field’ (= that is not one of the subjects I know about).
Extra Examples- people who work in this field
- I work in the field of computer science.
- She has made a huge impact in the field of literary history.
- Computer modelling is used extensively in the field of climate science.
- She was a pioneer in the field of digital art.
- Researchers in the field believe this could be a major breakthrough.
- You may use libraries or labs depending on your field of research.
- These academics are world leaders in their respective fields.
- I can't answer that—I'm afraid it's outside my field.
- Etymology is not really my field, but I'll try to answer your questions.
- There has been no solid research in this field.
- He was equally famous in the fields of politics and of science.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- chosen
- specialist
- specialized
- …
- work in
- open up
- in a/the field
- outside a/somebody’s field
- field of
- …
- an expert in the field
- a leader in the field
- a field of research
- …
- [countable] (especially in compounds) the fact of people doing practical work or study, rather than working in a library or laboratory
- a field study/experiment
- field recordings/observations
- Her findings were based on extensive field and laboratory work.
- We then tested the questionnaire in field conditions.
- in the field tests carried out in the field
Extra Examples- In 2016, the first field trials of the vaccine were carried out.
- In a series of field experiments, we investigated the effect on the frog population.
- Until further field research has been conducted on these products, caution is recommended with their use.
- field recordings of natural sounds
- This research finding tends to support the field observation that organizations change only when they have to.
- Companies might use focus groups or field surveys for market research.
- The researchers went on to conduct a three-year field and laboratory study.
- The research-and-development unit comes up with new products and tests them in the field.
- The device can directly measure soil erodibility in the field or laboratory.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + field- work in
- experiment
- investigation
- research
- …
- in the field
- [singular + singular or plural verb] all the people or products competing in a particular area of business
- They lead the field in home entertainment systems.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- strong
- crowded
- male-dominated
- …
- dominate
- head
- lead
- …
- include somebody
- ahead of the field
- [countable] (usually in compounds) an area within which the force mentioned has an effect
- the earth’s gravitational field
- an electromagnetic field
- Weak electric fields are emitted by all living organisms.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- energy
- force
- electric
- …
- strength
- [countable] part of a record that is a separate item of data
- You will need to create separate fields for first name, surname and address.
- the use of keys to move between fields
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- data
- display
- input
- …
- create
- move between
area of land
in sport
in war
subject/activity
practical work
in business
physics
computing
Word OriginOld English feld (also denoting a large tract of open country; compare with veld), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch veld and German Feld.
Idioms
leave the field clear for somebody
- to enable somebody to be successful in a particular area of activity because other people or groups have given up competing with them
- The complete disarray of the opposition parties leaves the field clear for the government to implement urgent reforms.
level the playing field
- to create a situation where everyone has the same opportunities
play the field
- (informal) to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people